Sarkis and Samantha

I love you, yes I do, my nephew
You are carrying my father’s name: Sarkis.
When you asked Samantha to marry you, we celebrated.
Because she is beautiful, like a Chilean flower,
O, the only son,
We love to sing for you a thousand songs,
And congratulate your beloved father,
Look at him, at his smile to feel his happiness,
In his only son’s wedding,
We lit the candles of joy,
And represented them as a gift,
Your mother Therese threw on us
In the wedding of love, all the red roses
There is a magic line between you and her,
That’s why you become like her full of kindness,
We could not find a name like yours,
“Sarkis Tony”.. Show off a little.
Before your grandmother died
She wrote a will, a beautiful will,
We cried when we read it:
She gave you her wedding ring as a gift,
We raised our hand to heaven
And near us there was a bible,
We heard a lot of blessing from above,
And you are blessed a million times,
Samantha is now your wife,
And we are proud to welcome her
From now and on as “Mrs Baini”.

Marcel and Laure

The day I received the news of the marriage of my youngest brother Marcel Baini to the daughter of beloved Rechdibbine, Laure Deeb year 1976, I composed this poem:

My youngest brother is in love,

With a young lass from Rechdibbine,

Laure is her beautiful name,

And she’s like a fragrant rose.

My brother adored her,

And passionately embraced her.

He chose her from her father’s vineyard,

And said: Laure will always be mine.

He selected her ring so carefully,

To adorn her soft and delicate hands.

He then swore by Almighty God,

To make her happy and be loyal to her.

From Australia, I whisper in her ear:

With you among us dearest Laure,

Thank God, our happiness is complete.

Although we live on a remote island,

You’ll always dwell in our heart,

Our gorgeous sister-in-law.

**

Michael and Therese

While in Sydney, I received the news of the marriage of my brother Michael to our cousin Therese Yammouni, on the island of Cyprus year 1976, I composed this poem especially for the happy occasion.

O Cyprus!

For God’s sake let me know

How my tears become so bountiful

And my heart throbbing sturdily

O Cyprus!

On my behalf,

Decorate your city squares

And embrace my brother so tenderly.

O My neighbour!

Congratulate Therese - His bride

And from your flowers

Give them a gift

And let a choir of birds

Sing in their wedding!

George, her father

And her mother Carmen

So happy for their obedient daughter!

To his daughter-in-law

My father said:

Your wishes will be granted

Your aunt Patronella will cover for me

My dearest niece from Barsa

A bride and a ray of sunshine

To you I will say it once:

You and Micho are forever in my heart

You are not only my niece

But also my only daughter

Congratulations my dearest daughter.

**

Joseph and Veronica

I was in Sydney, when I received the news of the marriage of my brother Joseph to our cousin Veronica Bahri 3/9/1972

-1-

Joseph, my brother is getting married,

In saint Joseph’s hedged abbey,

Saint Joseph is very happy,

The wedding is held in His place.

-2-

All the people of Sydney,

Attest to Veronica Bahri,

When she stood in the Church,

God blessed her with His right.

My father Sarkis proudly asked,

My mother to release her cheers.

-3-

My brother Joe is my companion,

Ever since we were little,

With a heart full of joy,

I prayed to God and asked Him,

To complete his happiness,

We stood together in our youth,

And we will remain very close

When we get to be old.

A bridegroom brimful of love,

O Mejdlaya, beat your drums,

O Sydney, cover them with flowers.

**

George and Anne

I composed this poem the day I received the news of the marriage of my brother George Baini to our cousin Antoinette Bahri, year 1969.

-1-

My brother George is smitten,

Flowers of  love shape

His Anne’s name.

I pray to Almighty God,

To shine upon and protect them.

My brother is young and handsome,

And Anne is like a fragrant rose,

Her smile made his heart palpitate,

For her, he has forsaken all.

-2-

Pour O God your abundant blessings,

Upon them and protect Sydney,

Adorn their way with silk and flowers.

Anne is a princess and George her prince,

A hero and a knight like no other,

Protect them always, O Divine Judge,

Kfirsgab joyfully danced for them,

Mejdlaya chanted jovial poetry;

And sent its heart a special gift.

**

Antoine and Therese

The day I knew of the marriage of my oldest brother Antoine Baini to our neighbour Miss Therese Anissi, year 1967, I composed this poem.

From Lebanon, I call on Melbourne,

To tell my brother Antoine,

I’ll always be grateful to him,

And cherish his memory.

Father’s son is getting married

In the darkness of expatriation,

His beacons light the way,

Antoine is our oldest brother,

At his door the sun shines,

And his Therese beside him,

Full of goodness and generosity,

Her smile quenched his thirst.

He loved her since they were kids,

And offered her all his heart,

My dear brother is getting married,

To our dearest neighbour Therese,

My poetry will always tell:

Of a lovely couple untarnished,

In their auspicious expatriation,

And ever since their departure,

Our cedars never ceased to miss them.

**

April Moon

When I received the news of the marriage of my cousins Elie Shaanin and Louise Baini, I composed this poem especially for them.

-1-

I wished for so long to be there

For your bolt of the blue nuptial day!

I can tell the past and teach the present

How long I waited

For this magical moment

To cheer a brother and a sister

And share their most happy day.

-2-

Elie, my loyal and spirited cousin,

April moon envied your persona

Wherever you walk in shadow of your steps

The Jasmine blossoms everywhere

With the name of Elie written on their leaves

Elie who eternalises Lebanon’s name.

-3-

Dearest Louise, my tender-loving cousin,

You are the sister I never had,

The Nightingale danced on your wedding day

And chanted: O what a creative mind,

And instructive thoughts.

Treasure within your heart,

The love for your endeared spouse.

I swear by Almighty God,

You are and you will always be;

Our dearest and most loved couple.

**

Egypt

Egypt, you’re the mother,

Please, lend your ear…

I miss you overwhelmingly

I add to your famous Nile

Another river flow of my tears

If the Pyramids divulged my true love

You would’ve surely known,

My heart has stayed behind

In my endless expatriation,

I’m drowned in my sorrow

Since I embraced your iconic soil,

All my suffering has vanished

A shining smile has burst,

Upon the lips of the loved ones

I thought, the stars have hastily fallen

Mother of the world! Is what I see, true?

Are the nations listening to my beseeching?

Kindly, extend your hand to me

For he who cannot bring glory, is not a creator

I poured my passion in a fragrant poem

Enjoy this love and be pampered

You, Egypt, are the art and tongue

Your rhythmic tunes and your songs

Overwhelmingly, enriched my hearing

You are, and you will always be .

The tender motherly embrace

Who shall unite your children?

If you, yourself, did not.

**

Joe and Therese

The wedding of Joe M Baini and Therese A Draybi

-1-

When love unites two hearts we say:

Roses came into buds in gardens.

Today, we celebrate the wedding

Of the most beautiful couple

-2-

Joe Baini, the son of Marcel

My youngest brother whom I love

If the fate ever touched one hair of his head

I sacrifice my life for him and a lot more

Like the prophet Jobe, who endured so much

To give pleasure to the gracious Lord

So is Laure, your tender loving mother,

Wrapped around you a shawl of prayers

Charbel’s mother a loving caring mom

You can learn from her, passion and sacrifice

This family is enriched with sainthood,

To her the mountains would bow in respect

When it comes to love, passion and sacrifice

She would attain the highest credentials

You are a flag of glory, no one can achieve,

Bearing in its centre, a Cedar from Lebanon

-3-

This bride whose beauty prettified Hadchit

She was my student, and I know her persona

She told me like her mother she was raised

Wearing the same grace of her deeds

Antoinette, like her no one can ever bear

The world would attest to her generous doings

And Tony Draybi, my passionate father,

Raised me with love and tenderness

Two daughters he only has

Which one will he treasure more?

With my brothers, I walk the same path

In our small and beautiful family,

However, I did not forget her heartbreak

When the bishop performed her marriage

I asked myself while my eyes dimmed with tears,

Where is her brother Pierre, to carry her?

-4-

In my dream, I saw Pierre coming

Like an angel from heaven

I heard him saying to me:

Embrace for me, the bride and groom

And offer them many congratulations

Therese in her gown, is like the sun,

The mirror is jealous of her smile.

In the darkness of repatriation,

She once said to me:

Brother, your love is like a verse

When I left, I held no fear for my father Antoine

I feared that my mother, with a heavy heart,

Would give up living, without me

-5-

Oh Therese, the poem always tells me

That St Roumanos increased our yields

The saint of Hadchit is a star in heaven

During the time of infidelity, death and scarcity

Like you I shall burn more incense

So He could find a solution for these issues

After the wedding, a change will take place

For the Lord to protect your Joseph

To Saint Joseph, you must say few prayers.

**

My niece Georgette

Baptism of niece Georgette George Sarkis Baini

-1-

Georgette, my goddaughter,

The pride of my homeland,

I came today, to pour my tears,

In the holy font of your baptism

You are the light of my eyes,

I dream of your glowing face,

I dream of your lovely smile,

Sleeping has forsaken me.

I swear by Almighty God,

My heart fears no blasphemy,

You’re the daughter I never had.

-2-

This occasion is for your eyes,

You’re our faith and happiness,

Children will inherit Paradise,

Our Saviour has verily said.

In your eyes, we see paradise,

I wish I could lay at your feet,

The highest of the world’s peaks,

And decorate the green valleys,

On your wedding day,

Beg the plains, for a melody,

Which begins in Sydney Australia

And ends in Mejdlaya, Lebanon.

**

Audrey

Audrey… The angel child who lost her father when she was barely one month old. Her mother Melanie celebrating her first birthday in royal style. Why should she not, when Audrey is the crowned queen of our hearts.

-1-

I told him: your daughter is a queen,

He choked and couldn’t utter a word.

I told him: She often smiles at me,

I see his big smile emerge.

-2-

Jimmy left and travelled too far,

He is certainly watching and celebrating,

Overjoyed for his daughter happiness,

While she glows in her new attire.

-3-

When Audrey blows the candles,

Jimmy’s engraved in her heart,

She reluctantly holds her tears,

She cannot bear to see him sad.

-4-

Every day that goes by,

Melanie tells her story,

How sleep had forsaken her,

And the bitterness of your departure

-5-

For Audrey, your daughter,

Tula and Arthur are always there,

With overwhelming warmth and love,

With their unbelievable care,

And the scent of a lovely man

-6-

Therese, Audrey’s grandmother,

Wove her, a shawl of tenderness

As for Michel, her grandfather,

She is really driving him mad.

-7-

I won’t tell you about her ma,

A rare mother like no other,

After her, the mould was broken.

Caring for Audrey unceasingly,

As if you were still here.

-8-

Audrey is pampered by us all,

Relax and never fear for her,

As you watch her well surrounded,

She’s adored by one and by all.

-9-

O Jimmy, we are here your guests,

We came to thank you for your deeds,

Audrey, the epitome of beauty,

We see you, when we see her.

**

First Communion

The first communion of Joseph Anthony Baini

14 June 2015

-1-

Dear Joseph, you’ve become a young man

You carry your grandfather’s name

A name, we pray, is blessed with a long life.

Your smiley face, your bright eyes

And lips which are like the flowers

Compliment your elegant stature.

When you stand before your dad

And you are the light of his eyes

He proudly compares you to our Cedars.

On the face of your loving mother

She wears you as a beauty spot

And to show you off, she would say:

This is my only son and his sister

JOSEPH and Ella are all my dreams.

-2-

Today, at your Holy Communion

You take with Jesus, the walk of faith

Jesus loves you; He holds your hand

You joyfully receive Him into your heart.

He will grant you, every wish

Ask Him, as He’s our ultimate judge

To prolong your dear parents life.

And to provide your little sister

With a dress of an infinite grace

That’s woven by Saint Joseph’s hands.

Ask Jesus, to protect your parents

Who are a vineyard of generosity

So they don’t lose one single grape.

-3-

Your gene is “Baini”, of a proud descent

And your blood is mixed with Sarhan’s

That supports the pillars of your house.

**